Carpet-stretcher.



No. 65l,924. Patehtedluhe l9; I900. F. B. JOHNSON.

CARPET STRETGHEB.

(Application filed Sept. 25, 1899.)

(No Model.)

:TsRs cm. Pnmou'ruq, WASHINGTON u c UNITED STATES, PATENT QEFICE.

FRANK BQWERSJOHNSON, OF ADDISON, NEW YORK.

CARPET-STRETCHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part or LettersPatent No. 651,924, dated June 19, 1900. Application filed September 25, 1899. Serial No. 731,521. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK BoWERs J OHN- SON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Addison,in the county of Steuben and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Carpet-Stretchers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in carpet-stretchers, and has for one object to provide an exceedingly simple and effective device by means of which a car: pet may be tightlydrawn upon the floor after having been secured upon one edge thereof, so as to secure the opposite edge, and thus cause the carpet to lie smoothly upon the floor.

A further object of my invention is to so construct such a device as to provide for the holding of the foot-block in place while the carpet is being stretched by the operator, thus requiring'no permanent securernent of this block to the fioor.

With these ends in view this invention consists in the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and then specifically claimed.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains may understand how to make and use the same, the construction and operation will now be described in detail,referring to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a plan view showing my improved carpet-stretcherin position to stretch the carpet upon the floor, and Fig. 2 a section thereof. 7

In carrying out my invention as here embodied, A represents a foot-block, which is in the form of a right angle and has the prongs B projecting from its lower surface, and these prongs are adapted to be forced into the floor by the operator stepping upon the block, as will be readily understood: The vertical member of the block has a hole therethrough through which passes the screw-rod O, and upon the inner end of this rod is threaded the nut D,having a crank-handle E. This arrangement will permit the drawing inward of the screw-rod by the properturning of the crank-handle. The screwrod has formed therewith the bar F, the under side of which is grooved for the reception of the adjustable bar G, and this last-named bar has a slot H formed therein through which the stud I passes, the upper end being threaded and having the thumb-nut J run thereon,by which means the bar G may be adjusted upon the bar F and held by the tightening of the thumbnut for the purpose of lengthening or shortening the stretcher. The upper end of the bar G is turned downward and terminates in the head K,fr0m which project the bent prongs L, which latter are adapted to grasp the carpet while being stretched. From this description it will be seen that when one edge of the carpet has been secured in place by tacks or otherwise it may be stretched, so that its opposite edge may be likewise secured by first placing the foot-block A upon the floor as near the opposite wall as possible and forcing the prongs B into the floor by the operator stepping upon said block. Now by engaging the prongs L with the carpet and turning the crank-handle E the head K will be drawn toward the foot-block, during which process the carpet will be stretched and may be temporarily secured just back ofthe head by driving the tacks through the carpet and partly into the floor, and after'this process has been accomplished throughout the width of the carpet the free end thereof may be secured in place by tacking, after which the temporary tacks may be removed.

It is to be noted that the stretcher may be moved from place to place in stretching the carpet, since the prongs B do not enter the floor sufficiently to prevent its easy removal, and these prongs may be readily inserted, as before stated.

Among the principal advantages of my improvement is the fact that it may be used by a person of little or no skill and is exceed ingly durable and may be manufactured at small cost.

Of course I do not wish to be limited to the exact construction here shown, as this may be varied without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and useful is In combination, a right-angle foot-block, prongs projecting downward therefrom for insertion in the floor, a screw-rod passed through the vertical member of the angleblock, a nut run upon the inner end of the screw-rod ,& crank-handle formed with the nut whereby the latter may be manipulated, a bar having side flanges carried by the screw-rod,

said bar having a hole near its end, an aidjustable slotted bar guided upon the firstnamed bar, athreaded stud passed through a slot in the adjustable bar and through a hole in the first-named bar, the thumb-nut I run upon the stud for clamping the bars in adjustment, a. headrformed upon the adjustable bar, and curved prongs projecting downward from the'last-named bar, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed mysignature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. FRANK BOWERS JOHNSON.

Witnesses: V

W. D. SAXTON, EDWIN (3. SMITH. 

